Marco Time . . . Once Again!

WE'RE HERE!!! . . . Our favorite little slice of paradise! We escaped the cold Midwestern weather (although temps really haven't been too bad lately) to spend a much needed week away from it all - school, work, the usual chaos that is our everyday life. Ha! Planning to soak up that glorious south Florida sunshine, relax, and enjoy good ole family time. We are minus Alex on this trip - he opted out due to other commitments he had made for the week - we all miss him big time but we keep telling ourselves that this is something we need to get a little more comfortable with - he is, after all almost 18 and a soon-to-be graduating senior so I have a feeling this may happen a little more often in the coming years. :o). But still, it doesn't change the fact that we wish he was here too!

Today promises a high of 80 last I checked. There is not a cloud in the sky ..... Better go put my swimsuit on - the beach is calling my name!

More later!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

I can't help but wonder if somewhere in China there is a special woman who is thinking about the beautiful baby girl she gave birth to 7 years ago today . . .

This was Carly's "finding ad", which was placed in the local Guiping City paper (standard protocol in China) shortly after she was found and takent to the orphanage (on February 12, 2004). My precious, beautiful daughter. I can only hope and pray that somehow her birth mother knows that she is loved and safe and that she is a very special part of a family in America.

And here is our princess now - 7 YEARS OLD already.

Her "friends" birthday party was a princess/diva theme. We had a face painter, we did nails, we decorated cookies, and we played games. A fun time was had by all! And Mom was especially exhausted after those 2 hours of jam-packed fun. LOL. In Carly's words . . . "It was the BEST birthday party EVER!". Kind of makes all the blood, sweat, and tears that come with planning a 7 year old's birthday party worthwhile. :o)

The girls:

The table:

The cake:

Happy Birthday to Carly!